Introduction:
Though most people don’t realise it, much of the technology we rely on every day – (from cars to phones to planes to the cloud) runs on free and open source software.
Over 20 years into the business, we saw that open-source software has transformed the technology industry by providing numerous benefits to individuals, businesses, and communities. Unlike proprietary software, open-source software is freely available, editable, and distributable. In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of using open-source software, including cost savings, flexibility and security.
Some of the points we have observed over a period of time for customer benefit is:
Cost Savings:
One of the major advantages of open-source software is its cost-effectiveness. It doesn’t require expensive licences, open-source software is free to use, modify, and distribute. This cost-saving aspect allows businesses, especially startups and small enterprises, to use their financial resources more efficiently. Additionally, open-source software eliminates the need for expensive vendor lock-ins, giving organisations the freedom to choose service providers or develop their own solutions, leading to long-term savings.
Flexibility and Customization:
Open-source software provides unparalleled flexibility and customization options. The source code is openly available, allowing developers to modify and tailor the software to meet specific requirements. This flexibility enables businesses to adapt the software to their unique workflows, integrate it with existing systems, or develop new features. Moreover, the open-source community actively contributes to improving the software by offering a wide range of modules, extensions, and plugins. This ecosystem empowers developers with various options, ensuring that the software evolves and adapts to changing business needs.
Security and Reliability:
Open-source software often offers better security and reliability. With a large number of contributors and users constantly reviewing the code, vulnerabilities can be promptly identified and addressed. The transparency of open-source software allows for security audits, making it easier to detect and fix potential security flaws. Additionally, open-source projects benefit from quick bug fixes and updates, reducing the risk of prolonged vulnerabilities.
Widely used open source platforms:
Magento
Linux
Etherium
Conclusion:
Using open-source software brings numerous benefits, including cost savings, flexibility, customization, community collaboration, and enhanced security. The freedom to use, modify, and distribute open-source software empowers individuals and businesses to leverage technology more efficiently, adapting it to their specific needs.
By embracing open-source solutions, organizations can tap into the collective power of a global community, driving innovation and creating reliable, secure, and customizable software for various applications.
Eventually we decided NOT to reinvent the wheel and offered an open source system that was well tested and we customized about 20% to fit the requirement.
